Kyiv, June 1: A Ukrainian drone strike has destroyed more than 40 Russian military aircraft deep inside Russia, a Ukrainian security official told The Associated Press. The operation, which took over 18 months to plan, was personally supervised by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Drones were covertly transported in containers on trucks into Russian territory and struck 41 bombers at several airfields, including the Belaya air base in the Irkutsk region—over 4,000 kilometers from Ukraine.
This was the first confirmed Ukrainian drone activity in that part of Russia, according to local governor Igor Kobzev. Russian officials in Ryazan and Murmansk regions also reported drone activity but gave few details.
The attack coincided with Ukraine preparing for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia in Istanbul. Zelenskyy announced that Defence Minister Rustem Umerov would lead the Ukrainian delegation.
Kyiv has demanded that Moscow provide its peace proposal before the meeting, but Russia said it would present its memorandum during the talks.
On the same day, Russia launched its largest drone attack on Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, with 472 drones and seven missiles fired.
One missile struck a Ukrainian army training unit, killing at least 12 soldiers and injuring over 60. The training unit was located behind the active front lines, and no mass gatherings of personnel were taking place at the time.
Following the strike, Ukrainian army commander Mykhailo Drapatyi resigned. Drapatyi was a respected leader whose efforts helped Ukraine regain territory in the east during last year’s counteroffensive.
In the north, Russia’s Ministry of Defence said it had taken control of the village of Oleksiivka in Ukraine’s Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities ordered evacuations in 11 nearby settlements as Russian forces advanced.
Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russia is concentrating its offensives on Donetsk region towns Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Lyman, as well as the Sumy border area.
Ukraine faces sustained military pressure on multiple fronts amid ongoing drone attacks and ground advances, while preparing for diplomatic negotiations. (AP)
